The life of a not so desperate housewife

Valentine's Swap!

2012-02-13T07:00:00.001-08:00

I joined Fabulous but Evil's Valentine's Day Swap and it was so much fun! I love Valentine's day for the simple reason that I love HEARTS!

I was paired with Annahita and told her that I love hearts and she complied!

She sent me fuzzy socks (LOVE socks!) with hearts, little heart ornaments and heart stickers! I will probably use the hearts for my scrapbook and letters!

And in case you were wondering what Geoff got me for Valentine's Day (we celebrated with Chinese food and gifts on Friday because he has class on Tuesday night) he followed my suggestion and got me the heart apron at Target I've been admiring!

Adorable. I'm especially pleased with this gift because it's not just "stuff", but something I'll definitely use. Plus, Geoff has an apron and I was tired of borrowing his!

Harry Potter Challenge Day 13

2012-02-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Day 13 is my least favorite movie.

This one was difficult, because while the movies are completely different from the books, I do love them. At first I thought my least favorite was the 5th movie, because I wasn't a fan of the 5th book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Then I realized that this is possibly because I haven't seen that movie very many times.

Then I thought maybe it was the 4th movie, because there was just too much expounding on plot lines that weren't actually in the book. Then I remembered the graveyard scene, and the scene where Harry comes back, in front of the whole school, with Cedric's dead body (oops, spoilers! It's been long enough). Horrible as it sounds, I love that scene, and the music that goes along with it.

Finally, I thought maybe it was the 2nd movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This is one of my least favorite books, and the movie has always seemed more childish than the others. With the exception of the first movie, of course, but I almost feel obligated to like that movie, because it's the first one! Try as I might, though, I can't hate the 2nd movie either. The actor's relationships are building, and the movie really shows them coming into their characters for the first time.

Finally, I decided that I don't actually have a least favorite movie. I love all of them for different reasons, and I don't like all of them for different reasons. When you separate the movies and the books, it's difficult for me to not like any of them because, like the books, I love and dislike each for very different reasons.

Do you have a least favorite movie?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

It's a love story!

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I love the story of how Geoff and I met, and I was thinking recently that since other bloggers share their stories, I should too. Then I ran across this linkup, and was thrilled! Go check out the other online love stories!

It all started with Harry Potter, Livejournal, and this girl:

Strange combination, huh? So, here's the story.

Waaaay back in December 2005, I got it in my mind that I wanted to play a Harry Potter role playing game. After searching long and hard (not really) on Livejournal for a text based game, my sister and I decided to start our own. We had no idea what we were doing.
Thank goodness for Kim (pictured above)! She offered to help, as she had experience with these things. Since we were lacking in players, especially guys, Kim invited her (relatively new) friend Geoff to play with us.

Ah, those were the days. This was back when everyone used IM, so we spent hours online chatting; Kim, Geoff, sometimes my sister and a few other players. Since they lived in Idaho, and I was in Massachusetts and they were 3 hours behind me, I was regularly staying up past midnight which wasn't good, since I often worked at 5 am the next morning. But I loved it all.

After a while, Geoff and I started chatting more and more. Some time in mid-April I realized that I liked him. It hit me all of a sudden, and seemingly out of the blue, although I'm sure it had been developing for a while. I remember leaving my house and calling Geoff just to say hi, and realizing that it was because I missed his voice.

On April 18, 2006, between class for Geoff, and a baseball game (that I was covering for a paper) for me, I asked him to be my boyfriend.

The rest, as they say, is history. I knew 3 months into our relationship that we would get married. It took him another year to come to this conclusion himself, but that's OK. I tried to be patient. We dated long distance for almost 5 years, visiting each other every few months (and spending about 6 months together). Finally, finally on January 2, 2010, we were married, and moved to the same zip code permanently.

And I still love him as much as the day we started dating.

Our Love Story!

2012-02-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

When I saw that From Mrs. To Mama was doing a love story link up, I knew I had to join! Mostly because I just love talking about my wonderful husband!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

On April 18 it will be 6 years!

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

I'm going to go into this more tomorrow, so I won't go into ALL the details now (come back tomorrow!) but we met through a mutual friend, online, while playing a Harry Potter game. Does that entice you to come back?

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

I knew I was going to marry Geoff after we'd been dating 3 months. 4 years later...he caught up! We were married on Jan. 2, 2010 (a palindrom! 01.02.2010) in Massachusetts. It was perfect, and it even snowed for us!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We got married in my home church in Massachusetts and had a reception in an old mansion. I think the wedding was medium sized, but I have no idea how many people were there. Maybe 200 or so?

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

I call Geoff either love, or Geoff-Geoff. He calls me Meggy, Meggy the Pooh Bear, or Megg-Megg.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love his dedication. He's a freemason, and he has recently progressed to being the equivalent of "president" of his lodge. He worked hard to get to that point and I'm so proud!
I also love how much he loves ME! He's so dedicated to me and our little family that it makes me excited to expand it.
I love that he's such a hard worker. He's working full time and going to school part time, and isn't slacking in either.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

We love, love, LOVE to go to the movies. We dated long distance and we always went to the movies when we were together. On one of our last visits he proposed while we were in the theater, watching Up! It was perfect for us, and I love telling the story!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Neither. He's practical, which I love. I usually give him hints, but he typically gets me something I'll use, rather than a teddy bear that will just lie around. He did get me flowers for our last 2 Valentine's days together though, so I may get them again this year!

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Definitely a pop a movie in and relax! We are kinda homebodies and like it that way! Although I wouldn't say no to dinner on the beach...

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd love to go to Europe with him! I've been to Italy and he's been to Japan, but I'd love to experience England and some of the surrounding countries with him!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Absolutely nothing! He has class and we're going to Hawaii the next week, so we're not going to worry about the actual day.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I asked him for an apron from Target! They have an adorable one with hearts, and I don't have an apron so I really want one!

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Communicate. We read The 5 Love Languages in premarital counseling, and one of the things I learned was communicate with him, especially when I'm feeling like my "love meter" is running low. Guys just don't get things, and sometimes you just need to lay it all out for them.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I'm going to show you a video, rather than a picture :)

Go link up here!

Harry Potter Challenge Day 12

2012-02-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Day 12 is your favorite ship.

Before I start this post, I want to mention that I've decided to go against what I have always felt to be right. I'm posting twice in one day. The reason for this is that if I don't, I will never get through this challenge. So I'll post my Harry Potter challenge after my "regular" blog posts. So come back later for Harry Potter!

For those of you who don't read fan fiction, ships are the "relationships" that you like the most. Gay and lesbian ships are typically called slash. All ships are abbreviated. There's your geek trivia for the day!

I ship Harry/Hermione (aka, H/Hr).

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know they don't end up together (spoiler!) I know their relationship is, and always has been 100% platonic. Unfortunately, I love them together!
I think it stems from the fact that while I like Ron, I love Hermione. Of the three, I prefer Harry and Hermione, closely, but lastly followed by Ron. Therefore, I tend to put the two I like best together. That's about the only reason I love them together.

I used to obsessively search for screen caps from the movies with Harry and Hermione together. I had a page a day calendar with movie photos and I used to save all the Harry/Hermione pictures. I was obsessed! Even though the series is over, and all hope of Harry/Hermione was permanently squashed in the 5th book, I still hold onto my favorite pair.

Who do you like together?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

I love my job...right?

2012-02-08T07:00:00.001-08:00

I love my job...usually.

Last week I was frustrated.

I was stressed because in the last pay period I worked 4 out of 10 days.

My lead teacher can be pompous and often doesn't let me take the lead even when I request it. Sometimes she talks down to me. Often she doesn't listen to my ideas, or takes them over as her own.

Hours are being cut, I'm working part time, and while we're cutting costs as often as we can, going from part time to full time has been a difficult transition.

The kids are driving me crazy, pushing their limits, testing us, and generally being rambunctious.

I've been wondering if I should be looking for another job, feeling like I'm not contributing enough to our family.

And then...something happened.

source

We've been working on Chinese dragons all throughout January for Chinese New Year. It was a big thing for me, because I have been the one spear-heading the whole craft. Although Chinese New Year was a couple weeks ago, we decided to have a "parade" with our dragons, especially because we had two little girls who celebrate in our class.

My lead teacher was leading the parade, and I was following up behind. She played a song on a little recorder, and (most of) the kids hummed or sang along. We paraded through the other classrooms, through the office, and back to our classroom. For a class of almost 30 kids, they were amazingly well behaved, and I was really proud of them.

To put the next part of the story into context, I need to tell you about Michael*. Michael is younger than the other kids, and he's a complete handful. He doesn't listen, he's always in his own world, and though he's adorable, he couldn't sit still if his life depended on it.
So there I am, at the end of the line with Michael, who is being surprisingly well behaved. I was so proud of him because lines are definitely not his strong point. Anyway, he leaned over and gave me a side hug and said, in his little voice, "thank you for doing the dragons".

Suddenly all those frustrations melted away, and I saw my job for what it really is. Introducing those kids to another culture and seeing them actually get it, was wonderful. If no one else appreciates what I do, they do, and that made it all worthwhile.

All the cut hours, the frustrations, the glitter...it suddenly disappeared, because Michael appreciated what I was doing, and he even walked in line properly.

I guess sometimes I need a little reminder of who I actually work for.

*Name has been changed to protect the adorable.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for free scrapbooking software!

Dear anoymous...

2012-02-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

To the person who found my blog by searching "cancer fucking sucks", I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you were forced to search that phrase, and I hope you found something you were looking for on my blog. Or at least something useful. Or at least the knowledge that someone else understands.

Because you know what? Cancer does fucking suck.

Someone close to someone close to me (if that isn't awkward I don't know what is, but I don't want to be more specific) was diagnosed with two types of cancer, recently, and I'm not sure what the outcome will be. I don't think it will end happily.

It just makes me want to double my efforts in fighting. In any way I can.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 11

2012-02-06T07:00:00.001-08:00

Day 11 is what character do you think you're most like?

I had a hard time with this one. I'm not like Hermione, who is smart, and I can't find myself relating to a male character. But I think the character I'm most like is Ginny Weasley.
Ginny is sweet, and caring, but she stands up for herself, too. In the beginning she reminds me of myself a lot at her age...shy, quiet and awkward. Later she definitely comes into herself, and her true personality shows.
I love how fiercely loyal Ginny is, and, at the same time, how independent she can be. She stands up to Harry, telling him how she feels in the last book, even if she backs down and stays behind rather than coming with him. She waits for Harry, likes him all that time, waiting for him to turn around and see her as the young woman she's become.
I may not be exactly like Ginny, but I definitely feel like I have similar traits, and those I don't have, I'd like to.

Who do you relate to the most?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some FREE digital scrapbooking software!

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Harry Potter Challenge Day 10

2012-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Day 10 is Horcruxes or Hallows?

I can only assume that this question means do I prefer horcruxes or hallows, because it's pretty vague. I'll do my best to answer it, though.

Since I generally consider myself to be a good person, I would have to choose hallows for my life. Since there is a question on which hallow I would prefer, I won't go into that now. I will, however, go into how I'm fascinated by horcruxes.

I love the way the horcruxes are described. I find the idea that, when you kill someone, your soul splits. I've always wondered how the horcruxes are created, and how Tom Riddle even knew how to make them, if they aren't discussed in any books.

So, I guess, I don't have a preference. I would choose Hallows for me, but find Horcruxes fascinating. What do you think?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some digital scrapbooking software!

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Harry Potter Challenge Day 9

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Day 9 is your least favorite male character.

I have two.
I'll start with the less offensive. I don't like Hagrid. For some reason I find him incredibly annoying. Part of this could be the fact that I don't like how he is voiced in the audio books, but part of it is that he's just plain stupid.
That may have been harsher than I meant it to be. Hagrid is so simple, but to a point where it drives me crazy. He loves monsters, and he has an irritating soft spot for the dangerous creatures, no matter what trouble they may bring him. But I think the thing that really bothers me about Hagrid is the fact that Harry, Ron and Hermione love him and I just don't see it.

The second person I hate is Snape.
Yup. I may be one of the only people who has read Harry Potter who hates Snape, but I'm coming out and saying it. I don't like the guy one bit.
I hate the way he treated Harry. I hate the fact that he loved Lily. I hate the fact that he's a deatheater. Then he's not. Then he is again, but he's a spy. But most of all, I hate the fact that he killed Dumbledore.
There is nothing, nothing that could be said in the books (or by other people, for that matter) that can convince me that what he did was OK. Nothing. He stood there and killed one of my favorite characters, and then he ran away. I just can't forgive him for that.
And, while we're at it, I hate that he loved Lily. Always. I hate that lingering word that floats around Etsy like it's the best line of the books.
I've hated Snape from the beginning, and I always will.

So, are you ready to stone me for hating one of the (now that the series is over) most well-loved characters?
Who is your least favorite character?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some digital scrapbooking software!

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Show us your life...singles!!

2012-02-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

When I heard that Kelly, from Kelly's Korner was doing another Show us your Life singles, I knew who I wanted to feature! My best friend, Kristin! Kristin and I have been friends for almost 20 years and I just know God is preparing someone awesome for her!

Kristin is 27 and works as a dietitian with prisoners at a state hospital in Boston. She lives in the city now, but wants to move out to the suburbs eventually. She has a great sense of humor and is able to find fun and excitement in the most ordinary things. Kristin prefers lakes over beaches, loves fall in New England, and is a wonderful, caring and trusting friend.

She loves animals, has a particular fondness for chocolate and Mexican food and is versatile; she doesn't mind lounging on the couch or going out and having a good time.

*This is a repost from the previous Show us your Life Singles. I thought it wouldn't hurt to show you all Kristin again! Just in case someone missed her awesomeness last time*

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for free scrapbooking software!

My memories review and GIVEAWAY!!

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I was recently contacted by My Memories to do a review of the digital scrapbooking software. I just came back from visiting my sister with my mom in LA, so I thought this would be the perfect birthday gift for my mom!

I love to scrap, but it's a lot of work, so I don't do it as often as I'd like. With this software, I was able to put together a scrapbook of 12 pages for my mom in just a couple days! I chose to use the pre-made layouts with a little tweaking, but you can also make your own layout.

I love that there are little embellishments that you can add like brads, flowers or the film strip at the top of this page! Perfect for our visit to the wax museum!

I love all the spring colors in this layout!

When you're done, there are several options to share your scrapbook. You can make a book or even print the pages out. I'm going to print the pages and put them in my own scrapbook book for my mom. This is such a great gift that I'm sure I'll use it again and again! It's definitely easier and cheaper than putting together the scrapbooks I usually do.

But wait, there's more!! I have a free copy of My Memories Suite 3 to give to one of you! It's easy to enter!

Mandatory entry:
Go to My Memories and choose your favorite digital layout and comment here with the one you chose.

Optional entries:
1. Tweet about this giveaway: Enter to win FREE digital scrapbooking software with @library_fiend! librarianhousewife.blogspot.com (1 entry)

2. Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Comment with a link to your post. (2 entries)

3. Follow me on twitter (library_fiend) and comment here with your twitter name (1 entry)

4. "Like" My Memories on Facebook and comment here (1 entry)

There you go, 6 ways to enter!
Don't worry, if you don't enter I have a coupon code for you to get $10 off the software! This giveaway will close 1 week from today on February 9, at 11:59 pm PST.

February Goals

2012-02-01T06:33:00.000-08:00

I never got around to making goals for January, for whatever reason, but I'm here in February to start fresh! Can you believe it's February already?? In just 3 short weeks I will be in Hawaii! We've been saving for so long that I can't believe that it's almost here!

But I digress. Onto my goals!

1. Work out 3 times a week.
I'm going to count all the walking and swimming I'm hoping to do in Hawaii as work outs!

2. Finish my mom's scrapbook (post on this coming soon!)

3. Start painting the living room chairs

4. List 3 washcloths on my Etsy shop

5. Write 3 letters.

I think this is enough goals for this month, considering we'll be gone for a week. Work will also be busy too, since we're kicking off our big fundraising month, so I'll definitely have my hands full.

Are you setting goals this month?

Harry Potter Challenge Day 8

2012-01-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

Day 8 is your favorite lesson

I think my favorite lesson would be potions.
Harry isn't good at potions because he never pays attention, but I'm great at paying attention to what I'm doing, at least when I'm following a recipe. My best friend (fresh off a semester of organic chemistry) once said that she thought she'd hate potions, but I disagree. I don't think it would be anything like chemistry. The way I see it, it's following a recipe exactly.
I love baking because there's no room for improvising. You have to follow the recipe exactly. This is why I think I'd like potions. Plus, it would be interesting to see what types of potions you can create.

What do you think your favorite class would be?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Harry Potter Challenge Day 7

2012-01-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

Day 7 is favorite female character.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about Harry Potter. In fact, I could write way more than 30 blog posts on Harry Potter, but I won't bore you with that! So it may not come as a surprise to you when I say that I have 2 favorite female characters. Nothing is simple when it comes to me and Harry Potter.
Therefore, I have a favorite kid character, and a favorite adult character. Due to their age (Harry was 11 when the books begin), the kids aren't in-depth characters. They are, in fact, very shallow. That's fine, because they are still developing into themselves, so understandably they don't have the same depth that the adults do.

So...my favorite female kid is Hermione.

I think this goes back to the idea of wanting to be in the inner circle of main characters, but I just love Hermione. Considering I named my cat Hermione, this probably isn't a surprise to many people who know me.
Hermione is mature, and I love that. I love that she mellows out after the first book in regards to rule-breaking. I love that she works so hard because she's a muggle, and wants to prove herself. She's everything I'm not, and some things I am...hard working, persistent, loyal, trustworthy and so very smart.
Hermione stood by and waited while Ron muddled his way through an awkward relationship, and when he finally came around, there she was. She patiently taught Ron and Hermione about girls, and, sometimes impatiently, guided them through their classes. She cares deeply for both Harry and Ron, in very different ways, and I love that too.

My favorite adult character is Molly Weasley.
Before I read the final Harry Potter book I was convinced that Molly Weasley was going to die. I had a theory that Harry had to lose everyone close to him so he could stand alone against Voldemort (which is true). I reasoned that he lost a father figure in Sirus, a grandfather figure in Dumbledore, and a mother figure in Mrs. Weasley. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Mrs. Weasley is the most loving (fiction) person I know. Though she mollycoddles Harry, she loves him like another son, and she has plenty! From the moment we meet her she's concerned for Harry's welfare, commenting on why he is alone at the Hogwarts Express, and hoping he is alright. There's just something about Molly Weasley that makes me happy. Though I'm not sure I'd want her to be my mother (she sometimes seems very over-protective, to me), all scenes with her in it make me smile, which says a lot, especially towards the end of the series.

Who are your favorite female characters?

Day 1: Your fave book.

Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Are there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book?
Day 4: Least fave female character and why?
Day 5: Fave male character and why?
Day 6: What house would you want to be in?
Day 7: Favorite female character and why?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Least favorite male character?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: Fave ship?
Day 13: Least fave movie?
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team Harry?
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts? (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor?
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice?
Day 18: Least fave book?
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be?
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be?
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight?
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry?
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t?
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna?
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it?
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you?

My skills, they are improving!

2012-01-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

Now that I've learned to purl, the possibilities of things I can knit are endless! I'm starting small, (though I'd love to make a pair of socks) to practice. My newest discovery? Dishcloths! They are easy and fast, and very fun to make, when they're done!

My first dishcloth was a TARDIS from Dr. Who! I gave this to my sister. This took me 2 days, mostly because I had to keep starting over in the beginning because I made mistakes. But I did it!

The yarn is "shiny" so it's difficult to get a good picture.
The pattern I used is here.

What do you think?

Harry Potter Challenge Day 6

2012-01-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

Day 6 is what house would you want to be in?

From day one I've wanted to be in Gryffindor. This isn't because I fancy myself as particularly brave, or that I really felt like I fit in there. It's much simpler than that. I want to be in Gryffindor because that's Harry Potter's house. Go ahead and laugh, it's OK.

I'm one of those people who relates to the main character. Someone who latches on and loves them, for whatever reason. While Harry Potter isn't my favorite character, I have always felt like we're friends. (I realize that my true Harry Potter craziness is coming out in this post.) When I first started reading Harry Potter in high school, when only 3 of the books were out, I devoured them, read them in study, and wandered the halls of my high school, pretending that I was at Hogwarts too.

My three best friends were Harry, Ron and Hermione, and I couldn't wait to read again, just to see where we all left off. I can always tell when I'm reading a good book because I think about it constantly when I'm not reading, and feel like the main characters are my friends too.
Naturally, since Ron, Hermione and Harry are my best friends then I would be in Gryffindor too. So that is why I have Gryffindor robes and a Gryffindor scarf. It's also why I refuse to take any type of "which house should you be in," tests, because I'm afraid it will place me somewhere else. Away from my friends.

Which house do you see yourself in?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Dream job

2012-01-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

Do you ever think about your dream job? What you would love to do if you had all the abilities in the world? I'm not talking about the perfect job in your field. I'm talking about if you could do anything?

If I could do anything in the world, I'd be a standup comedian.

source

I love to laugh, and I love to make other people laugh. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at it! When I was in college I tried to make a standup routine to practice on people. It worked...people laughed...but not quite at my jokes. No, they were laughing at me, and I think there was a bit of pity laugh in there, too.

So, I was forced to put my standup career on the back burner while I pursued a job that would actually make me some money.

What is your dream job?

Memories

2012-01-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

What I've Done, by Linkin Park makes me cry.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not a sad song, but it holds a lot of memories for me.
I read somewhere that the sense of smell is the strongest memory you have. That may be true, but for me, songs hold memories. Which is funny, because I don't really like music. Anyway, there are the songs that immediately remind me of high school, or the summer after Geoff and I started dating.
And then there are the songs that remind me of 2007.

In the year 2007 I was happy, truly happy, for about 4 months. One third of that year I was happy. In August I finally went to the doctor and started taking antidepressants. The next few months were wonderful, because I was finally happy. Not depressed. The veil had lifted. Until December, when Geoff's dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and, well...things just didn't go well after that.

So in the summer of 2007, Transformers came out, and my big, geek of a boyfriend took me to see it. Ever since then, the song What I've Done reminds me of that summer, which reminds me of how unhappy I was. So, I try not to think about it.

Looking back, there is a couple years of my life that I try not to think about, namely the summer of 2007 and most of 2008. Thankfully, 2009 was pretty good, and 2010, our first year of marriage was also good year.
I guess I never realized how much my depression still affects me, even after several years, after it's under control and, generally speaking, I'm happy. Last week I heard What I've Done on the radio, (on a day that, for whatever reason, was already not so great) and I was plummeted into memories that I don't want to remember.
At Thanksgiving we went to visit family, at Geoff's old school stomping grounds. I had lived there for a few months after he dad got sick and, ultimately, passed. Driving down those roads, as Geoff reminisced, all I could do was remember. Things I didn't want to remember.

I guess, sometimes, the past doesn't always escape us, no matter how well we think we have it under control.

There's no point to this post, really. No subject I want to touch on, no questions I want to ask at the end. No neat wrap-up. There are just words that I needed to write, because sometimes, I'm still sad.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 5

2012-01-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Day 5 is my favorite male character

For this, I'm stealing a post I wrote for my sister last July, because I can't put it any better than I did back then.

I have a hard time deciding who my favorite Harry Potter character is, but I think if I were forced to choose, my favorite adult character would be Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore represents so much in the world of Harry Potter. To Harry, he is both a grandfather and a mentor, and I think he is the character Harry respects the most. Dumbledore embodies respect, love, gentleness and, above all, calmness in even the scariest of storms. Even when he knew he was dying on top of the astronomy tower (either at the hands of Draco or another death eater or by the potion he had just consumed), he spoke calmly with everyone there.

It never really occurred to me that, once a long, long time ago, Dumbledore was a young man. That is, until I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and we learned about Dumbledore's past. The man that I always thought was a wonderful hero, actually did some disturbing things, the most notable centering around his relationship with the dark wizard Grindelwald. When Dumbledore was 17, he had a short friendship with Grindelwald which ended abruptly with the mysterious death of Dumbledore's little sister. Before that, however, we learn that in the two short months that the two were friends, they discussed things so against what Dumbledore would later believe that it almost seems impossible that the ideas could have come from the man we grow to love much later in his life.

So what stopped Dumbledore from following Grindelwald when he left? Why did he just leave him, watch as he slowly slipped deeper and deeper into the dark arts, killing wizards and muggles alike with little care or worry about what he was doing? It took several years before Dumbledore finally found Grindelwald, battled with him, took, as we later learn, the Elder wand and imprisoned him in a prison of Grindelwald's own design. The fact that Dumbledore discussed and supported Muggle killings with Grindelwald made many prior Dumbledore supporters question their undying loyalty.

However, I believe that Dumbledore always had good in him and that he never intended on following through with the things he and Grindelwald discussed. You see Dumbledore, at his core, is the good and caring man we saw in the first books, but he also has a darker side, a side he kept in check in a way that many of us could not. Dumbledore both loved and craved power. He wanted it more than anything else in the world, and this, I believe, is what drew him to Grindelwald. But something, and we may never know what, kept him in check and he realized that he could never have that power because it would be too dangerous. Perhaps he saw a bit of Grindelwald in himself and was afraid of what he might do. Dumbledore was offered the position of Minister for Magic on several occasions, but always turned it down. I used to wonder why, until I finally understood the whole story. With the Elder wand in hand, and power over the whole Wizarding community in England, he knew he would not be able to control himself. Despite his faults, nothing could make Dumbledore more noble and hero-worthy, than the fact that he turned down power for the sole reason of knowing that he couldn't handle it properly.

I sometimes forget that Dumbledore wasn't perfect, rather he is a man with many flaws, both good and bad. He both craves and resists power, knowing he can't handle it properly. He trusts where many would not. And perhaps my favorite fault of his is that he loves. Dumbledore loves to the point of almost carelessness. He loves Harry so much that he protects him from everything, right up until the end, leaving Harry with virtually no information when he sends him on his final quest. This particular flaw, I believe, makes up for all of Dumbledore's others. It is what stopped him from seeking the power that he so desired.

What must it be like, to have two, polar opposite desires and feelings? To turn around and completely ignore one, for the sake of the other? Dumbledore loves, trusts and believes, and I think he expected others to do the same. Turning down the power he wanted proves, once again, that love prevails above all things. That, more than anything else, solidifies my love for Albus Dumbledore.

Who is your favorite male character?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Why I will enroll my (future) boys in Boy Scouts

2012-01-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

I recently learned, unfortunately, that the Boy Scouts do not allow gay, atheist or agnostic men to be in positions of leadership. I find this too bad, and very archaic of them.
It should be noted, that the reasoning behind this is that "a scout is reverent". While that explains the atheism and agnosticism, it does not excuse the gay stance, in my mind.

However.
I am still going to enroll any future boys I have in Boy Scouts, despite my disagreement on this stance they take.
{I am also going to enroll any future girls I have in Girl Scouts, but that's not what we are talking about today.}

My reasoning is simple. Scouts has been an integral part in both Geoff and my childhoods. I joined Girl Scouts in the first grade, and Geoff joined Boy Scouts when he was 14. Both of us went as "high" as you can go in the ranks, and I received my Gold Award, and Geoff became an Eagle Scout. Scouting helped both Geoff and I developed and fostered important relationships with our father and mother, respectively.

What I want for my kids, is for them to learn the importance of nature, to learn to go camping, and to happily spend a week or two away from us, at camp. I want them to develop the self-confidence that scouting developed in us. Most importantly, I want them to learn to value the camaraderie that only a troop of all boys (or girls) can have.

So, despite a few rules that I disagree with, I believe that the Boy Scouts will offer more good than bad to my (future) boys. If the question or an issue with a gay man comes up, I will teach them what we believe, in our own home, where I believe they should be learning those sorts of things anyway. Meanwhile, they will (hopefully) enjoy their years of scouting, and I see many years of father/son bonding in their future. (Through an avenue that I feel more comfortable using than hunting together, for example. Mostly because I'm from the city, and people don't hunt there).

What do you think? Were you a Girl/Boy Scout? Will you (or have you) choose to enroll your children in scouting?

Please note that I'm not trying to rile anyone up, and I'm hoping that if you do choose to comment, that you will do so politely.

Calling all knitters!!

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Do you knit? I need you!

I have a personal vendetta against pancreatic cancer.
I'm collecting purple scarves to sell for Pancreatic cancer awareness. ALL money (not just profits) will be donated to pancan.org.

Here are some facts about pancreatic cancer:

The pancreas is used to produce insulin. Due to the fact that it doesn't have any nerves, pancreatic cancer often isn't diagnosed or even noticed until it has spread.
There are very few treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Only 2% of the American Cancer Society's research budget goes toward pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3-6 months.
There are no early detection tools for pancreatic cancer.

I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a cause, and mine happens to be pancreatic cancer. Yours may be diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, ALS or any number of horrible diseases that have touched your life. You can't help all of them.

My request is simple. Make me a scarf. The scarves will be sold for $15 (I'm looking into how to sell them, but I'm going to start on my Etsy shop) and all that money will go toward pancreatic cancer awareness. Do you knit or crochet? Please consider making me just one scarf. I can't do it all...I need your help.
{I am requesting purple scarves, since that is the color of pancreatic cancer awareness. All shades, patterns and types of purple scarves will be accepted!}

Don't knit or crochet? That's OK. Would you consider buying a scarf? I'm planning on setting up a paypal for this alone, separate from my personal one.
Cancer has touched almost everyone. Please consider donating or helping me out, no matter what your personal cause is.

If you're interested in making or buying a scarf (I'm hoping to have WAY more options that my one, soon!) please email me at crazymegg at gmail.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 4

2012-01-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

Day 4: My least favorite female character

Bellatrix Lestrange is my least favorite female character. I never thought much about her until she made an appearance in the movies and became a bigger character in the books. There's just something about her that I don't like. I find her annoying and irritating, and, to be perfectly honest, without a lot of depth. She may have a fascinating back story, but we don't know it, so her character really isn't one I'm invested in. So, character-wise, Bellatrix Lestrange is my least favorite female character.

She's not the only one I hate. I also hate Delores Umbridge. There's a difference, however. I love to hate Umbridge. She is such a well written character who gets under your skin in a way that you just...have to appreciate her.
Umbridge has the depth that Bellatrix lacks. She isn't evil, but she's a complete suck-up to the minister of magic and will do anything for him. Concerned that Dumbledore is forming an army against the ministry, Umbridge censors and controls everything she can. I love the way she infiltrates the school and my mind, making me hate every mention of her. She is so well written, that I just love to hate her.

Who is your least favorite character? Do you have a character you love to hate?

Day 1: What's your favorite book? Why?
Day 2: What's your favorite movie? Why?
Day 3: What frustrated you most about the film adaptations?
Day 4: Who is your least favorite female character? Why?
Day 5: Who is your favorite male character? Why?
Day 6: What house are you in?
Day 7: Who is your favorite female character?
Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character? Why?
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like?
Day 12: What's your favorite ship?
Day 13: What's your least favorite movie?
Day 14: Death Eater or the DA?
Day 15: Who would be your best friend at Hogwarts?
Day 16: Who's your favorite professor?
Day 17: What's your least favorite book? Why?
Day 18: Do you prefer the books or films?
Day 19: What is your favorite chapter?
Day 20: What part of the books always makes you cry?
Day 21: If you could bring one character back to life, who would it be?
Day 22: Are there any scenes you wished would have been put in the films?
Day 23: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how the series turned out?
Day 24: What's your favorite spell?
Day 25: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Day 26: Who is your favorite villain character? Why?
Day 27: Who is your favorite Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher?
Day 28: What would your patronus be?
Day 29: What is your favorite line in the books?
Day 30: What effect has Harry Potter had on your life?

Darn sock!

2012-01-17T07:12:00.001-08:00

Recently I got it in my mind that I wanted to start darning my socks. After I was given a darning egg for Christmas, I got serious about mending any and all socks in my house.

My darning egg, used by my great, great grandmother, and every grandmother since!

In a day in age when it's sometimes easier to throw out socks and buy more, darning really isn't practiced very often. I admit that my motivation leans more toward saving some of my favorite socks than saving money, but I also enjoy darning, believe it or not!

Anyway, I had a request to post about darning, so her it is! My simple, how to darn socks. Be warned, my work isn't beautiful, but considering most of it is on the bottom of the sock, I don't really care.

First, grab your sock! This is mine. It's nice and thick, and I love to wear them to bed. Considering I don't walk in them a lot I'm not sure how this one got a hole, but that's OK.

Place your darning egg inside the sock. Don't pull the sock tight; the egg is more for holding the shape and helping your stitching. If you don't have a darning egg, they aren't too expensive, and you can buy them pretty much anywhere. (Here's one on Amazon.com. There are also some gorgeous, but expensive eggs on Etsy.)

If you don't want to buy a darning egg, you can also use a lightbulb, just be careful that you don't press too hard and break it! (I would have used a lightbulb, but we only have the swirly, energy saving ones in our house. Plus, I have this awesome family heirloom and all.)

Anyway, after you have put the egg in your sock, start stitching! I just a basic running stitch and embroidery floss. You will want to stitch around the hole, starting a little way away from it, to strengthen the hole. When you get to the hole, just stitch across it, without pulling it shut (this will affect the sock's shape).

I told you it isn't pretty! Also, I didn't stitch the hole spots close enough together and had to go back that way, so I suggest trying to get them closer.

Also, I chose a bright color to show you, but you can try to choose a color closer to the shade of the sock. Personally I don't worry much about that because it's on the bottom, but it's a personal preference.

After you have stitched all the way across, turn the sock and go the other way! Weave the thread in and out when you get to the hole. The result is a nice, strong patch!

This is the inside. Usually I turn the sock inside out, but I didn't this time because I forgot. It doesn't make much difference.

Don't tie a knot in your thread, because it will be uncomfortable when you walk. Just keep stitching and cut it off!

This isn't a great picture, but here's another sock I darned!

It was one of the first, so it's not my best. Also, it didn't have a hole, so I was just mending a bare spot. You don't have to wait until your sock has a hole to darn it!

What do you think? Do you recycle your socks, darn them, or just toss them?

Letters, letters, everywhere!

2012-01-16T07:12:00.001-08:00

source

Last year I undertook a 52 letter challenge...a challenge to write 52 letters (a letter a week) in 2011. While I'm not sure I made it to 52 letters, I did write a lot, and got a lot of letters back. The problem? What to do with the pile of letters I received in the past year?

Some may suggest that I throw them out. Many of them are, after all, mundane. They talk about what's going on in the lives of the friends or family who wrote to me. Even so, I just can't bring myself to just throw them out. I think it goes back to high school.

When I was in high school, my best friend Laura and I wrote letters to each other in class. They were nothing, really. This class is boring, or a rehashing of private jokes we had with each other. They were full of illustrations; stick figures reenacting silly scenes that we had previously laughed at. They are a snapshot of our lives, and I can't bring myself to get rid of them. As a result, they are in a hatbox, at my parent's house. I haven't read them in ages, but the next time I'm back home I'm going to pull them all together and read them. Then I'm going to take them back home.

Anyway, back to my letters from 2011. I don't know what to do with them. I need ideas! One that I've toyed with is punching holes and putting a couple rings on them, so they're like a little notebook.

What about you? Do you have letters hanging around? What do you do with them?